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Attorney General Joseph Foster announced Monday night that Officer Stephen Arkell was shot and killed when he entered the home at 46 Mill Pond Road in response to a call about a domestic dispute.

Foster said the shooter is believed to be Michael Nolan, 47. He said other officers were driven out of the home by gunfire.

Nolan is believed to have set the duplex on fire, and about 5:50 p.m., a massive explosion rocked the neighborhood and tore part of the roof off the building. The house was quickly engulfed in flames and destroyed.

Foster said investigators believe Nolan was killed in the fire.

Gov. Maggie Hassan ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in Arkell's honor. He was a married father of two teenage girls.

"Officer Arkell bravely answered the call of duty and made the ultimate sacrifice, a heroic demonstration of his commitment to the safety of his fellow citizens," Hassan said. "Like so many of our first responders do on a daily basis, Officer Arkell courageously put his life on the line to protect others, and in doing so, was tragically taken far too soon."

A large police force from several agencies responded to the home after the initial report of shots fired came in. After the fire started, firefighters and other emergency workers were kept away from the building.

Shortly before the explosion, media crews and others nearby were told to get back out of concerns that they might be in the line of fire. An officer was heard saying there may be a person with a long firearm in the house.

Earlier, a person was seen being taken to an ambulance. That person was sitting up and did not appear to be seriously injured. Exeter Hospital said it was treating one patient who arrived from the scene.

That person was not suffering from a gunshot wound.

Fire officials said later in the evening that that the fire was put out before it could spread to neighboring homes.